How To Paint A Bike

In Spain there are many types and models of bicycles, which are widely used by thousands of people who travel throughout the city. However, the high cost of living has increased its use; We even have models that are electric and have built- in GPS, among other functions. Learn how to paint them properly by reading this post.

Bicycles improve your health, helping to improve your respiratory system, your cardiovascular system; With its use, you will have very beautiful and well-shaped legs.  On the other hand, there are many colors that can help you improve their appearance, customizing them according to your lifestyle.

The color of your bicycle is very important, as this will help you to recognize it everywhere, since on the street we have many models that are the same or similar. You can combine two or more colors in the frame or center of your bicycle, painting the fork in another color to make it more attractive. Also, we recommend you paint the steering wheel in another color to combine the colors.

In the market there are many types of paints and colors; but, you have to know some  simple techniques that we will give you later, so that you can use them properly, because painting a bike is not like painting a motorcycle, or a car, it is much easier. This is so that when painting your bicycle it is very beautiful and like new.

The colors define the style

We recommend that you use vivid, strong and bright colors; This is also for safety, since in this way the cars that circulate on the roads will visualize you better. Finally, we advise you to choose phosphorescent colors to highlight your bike more and give it more safety on public roads.

It is important to highlight that there are bicycles that their frames are made of aluminum; which implies different and special techniques to paint them. These are generally the bikes that are for racing and professional use.

On the other hand, bicycles that have an iron frame or center must be verified that they are in good condition before painting them, because they rust easily. This means that when painting them we have a little more work, since the rust must be removed and removed before painting it.

Instructions for painting a bicycle

1. The first thing you have to do is disassemble your bike, removing all its parts with the appropriate tools.
2. You must remove the tires with a key, loosening the nuts that are on the axles;  turning it counterclockwise.
3. When the nuts are loose, you take the tire off the frame or center of the bike.
4. Then, remove the steering wheel, loosening a bolt with a nut that hold it in the middle of the steering wheel.
5. Remove the stem that is the base of the flywheel with an L-type or star wrench, loosening it all to remove it from the fork.
6. Remember that to loosen any nut this is to place the tool on the nut or bolt and turn counterclockwise.
7. Disassemble the brake system by loosening and removing a bolt that holds it to the bike frame.
8. Remove the fork from the frame or center of the bike by loosening a large nut on the top.
9. After you have the frame or center, just start sanding it with a fine sandpaper to remove the old paint.
10. You must verify that it does not have rust and that it does not have labels attached, so that it grips the paint well.
11. We recommend you sand them using water with liquid soap so that if it has grease it is also removed.
12. Grease does not allow paint to adhere well to the metal of your bike.
13. It is important that you verify that the material of your bicycle is iron or aluminum to choose the best painting technique.
14. This is very easy to tell with a small magnet; If you bring it closer to the surface of the frame or center of the bicycle and it sticks, it is iron.
15. If your magnet does not stick, it is because the center of your bicycle is made of aluminum.
16. If the paint you are sanding is hard to sand down, you can use a chemical paint  remover to make it easier.
17. If your frame or center is aluminum, you must sand the surface well until it is matte.
18. After you sand it down, add an important item called an all -purpose primer; this is like a background before painting.
19. This primer allows the paint to stick to the aluminum in a stronger and more resistant way.
20. Then, you can use a compressor with a paint gun to paint, but if you don’t have a compressor you can use good brand spray paints.
21. The spray, or the compressor gun, should be passed through the frame or center of your bicycle about 30 centimeters.
22. This is to prevent the paint from pooling and running on the surface to be painted.
23. If this happens, you must dry the excess paint with a cloth, and pass the spray or gun again.
24. We recommend that you do not leave the spray or gun stuck in one place; you have to have a top-down movement.
25. This is if the tube to be painted is vertical and if it is horizontal the movement is from right to left.

What do you need to paint a bicycle?

• Fine sandpaper.
• Water and liquid soap.
• Paint remover.
• Multipurpose primer.
• Spray or liquid paint.
• Compressor and paint gun.
• A ventilated place.

Tips for painting a bicycle

1. Before starting to paint, you must verify that the surface to be painted is free of grease and rust.
2. At the time of applying the paint, we recommend that you be in a ventilated place and that the day is sunny, since humidity also affects the paint.
3. You must put on gloves, protective glasses and mouth cover filters to prevent the paint from affecting your health.